Draft:Deji Adeyanju & Partners

Deji Adeyanju & Partners

Headquarters	House D4, White Diamond Estate, Makuru Street off Embu Street, Aminu Kano, Wuse 2, Abuja, Nigeria
Major practice areas	Human rights law; Criminal law; Arbitration; Corporate and commercial law; Oil and gas law; Technology and entertainment law; Election petition law; Banking and finance
Key people	Deji Adeyanju (Founding Partner) Marvin Omorogbe (Founding Partner) Zainab Otega (Senior Associate) Rosemary E. Hamza (Associate) Steven Ayougu-Eze (Associate)
Date founded	14 March 2024
Founders	Deji Adeyanju; Marvin Omorogbe
Website	dejiadeyanjuandpartners.com

Deji Adeyanju & Partners (DAP) is a Nigerian law firm based in Abuja, co-founded by human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju and Marvin Omorogbe, Esq. Established on 14 March 2024, the firm describes itself as a full-service practice providing legal services across a broad range of areas, with a particular emphasis on human rights law, public interest litigation, and criminal defence.

History

Deji Adeyanju & Partners was established on 14 March 2024, days after its founding partner, Deji Adeyanju, was called to the Nigerian Bar on 6 March 2024 following his graduation from the Nigerian Law School, Abuja. Adeyanju, who had previously obtained a first-class honours degree in Law from Baze University in 2022, announced upon his call to bar that he would use the law to advocate for the oppressed and would take up human rights cases on a pro bono basis, vowing that "no oppressed Nigerian goes to bed unable to defend his God-given and constitutional rights because he could not afford a lawyer."

The firm was co-founded alongside Marvin Omorogbe, Esq., a legal practitioner with a background in corporate governance, advisory, compliance, and litigation, who had previously studied law at Benson Idahosa University. Since its establishment, the firm has taken on a number of prominent human rights and criminal defence matters, establishing itself as a visible force in Nigerian public interest litigation within its first year of operation.

Overview

DAP operates a partner and senior associate-led model, in which associates are paired with more experienced partners or senior associates in handling client matters. The firm has positioned itself as a public interest law firm, frequently taking on high-profile cases involving civil liberties, freedom of expression, and the rights of individuals against state actors. The firm's stated practice areas include human rights law, criminal law, arbitration, corporate and commercial law, oil and gas law, technology and entertainment law, election petition law, and banking and finance.

Notable attorneys

• Deji Adeyanju – Founding Partner. Human rights activist, lawyer, and civil society leader. Called to the Nigerian Bar in March 2024 after obtaining a first-class LL.B from Baze University. Widely recognised as one of Nigeria's most prominent human rights defenders. Founder of Concerned Nigerians and a founding partner of the Centre for Liberty. See: Deji Adeyanju.
• Marvin Omorogbe – Founding Partner. Legal practitioner specialising in corporate governance, advisory, compliance, and litigation. An alumnus of Benson Idahosa University, Omorogbe has appeared as lead counsel in several of the firm's high-profile matters, including the VeryDarkMan EFCC detention in May 2025 and the motor insurance enforcement suit before Justice Hauwa Yilwa in 2026.
• Zainab Otega – Senior Associate. Has signed and issued several of the firm's formal legal statements and correspondence in notable matters, including the VeryDarkMan EFCC representation and the PDP defamation correspondence.
• Rosemary E. Hamza – Associate. Appeared as counsel in the Speed Darlington detention matter, securing a Federal High Court order directing the Inspector-General of Police to charge or release the musician within 48 hours.
• Steven Ayougu-Eze – Associate.

Notable clients and cases

Among the matters in which DAP has appeared as counsel are IGP v. Comrade Opaoluwa & Ors, a fundamental rights enforcement suit involving the detention of civil society actors; COP v. Aliyu Haruna, a criminal defence matter; and Commissioner of Police v. Ibrahim Zubairu & 3 Ors, a multi-defendant criminal matter. The firm has also handled a number of widely reported public interest cases, including the following.

IGP v. Omoyele Sowore (2019)

DAP's founding partner Deji Adeyanju was among the leading advocates for the release of journalist and activist Omoyele Sowore during his detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) in 2019. Sowore had been arrested in August 2019 ahead of planned nationwide #RevolutionNow protests and charged with treasonable felony. Adeyanju led demonstrations outside DSS headquarters in Abuja demanding Sowore's release in defiance of two court orders directing the DSS to free him, and spoke to CNN about what he described as the return of "full-blown dictatorship" in Nigeria.

#EndBadGovernance protest minors (2024)

In August 2024, DAP represented 124 protesters, including minors aged 14 to 17, who were arrested and charged with treason following the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations across Nigeria. Adeyanju told Human Rights Watch that the detained minors appeared malnourished and had been denied access to legal counsel prior to their arraignment. When 76 of the defendants were arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on 1 November 2024, five minors collapsed in the courtroom. Adeyanju, appearing as counsel, publicly condemned the stringent ₦10 million bail conditions imposed on the defendants, noting that many had spent over 80 days in police custody without formal charge. On 5 November 2024, the Federal High Court struck out the treason charges following an application by the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the protesters were subsequently released in batches.

Speed Darlington (Darlington Achakpo) (2024–2025)

DAP represented singer Speed Darlington (Darlington Achakpo) following his arrest in October 2024 after a petition was filed against him by musician Burna Boy on allegations of cyberstalking and defamation. Adeyanju confirmed the arrest and publicly called for Darlington's release, describing the case as an infringement on freedom of expression in Nigeria. Darlington was initially released on bail to Adeyanju in October 2024 but was re-arrested in November 2024 while performing at a show in Owerri, Imo State. DAP associate Rosemary E. Hamza secured a Federal High Court order on 23 December 2024, per Justice M.S. Liman, directing that Darlington be charged or released within 48 hours, with the court reiterating the order in January 2025.

Dr. John Abebe (2026)

DAP represented Dr. John Abebe, a medical practitioner at Joje Fertility Centre Limited in Abuja, in a case brought by the Inspector-General of Police before the FCT High Court over alleged IVF fraud. Founding partner Marvin Omorogbe issued a statement on behalf of Abebe condemning what he described as a "coordinated media campaign" portraying the defendant as guilty ahead of a court judgment, and called on the public to allow the judicial process to run its course.

VeryDarkMan (Martins Vincent Otse) v. EFCC (2025)

The firm represented social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, during his detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in May 2025. Founding partner Marvin Omorogbe led a team of DAP lawyers to the EFCC's Abuja headquarters following Otse's arrest at a Guaranty Trust Bank branch in Abuja. A statement signed by senior associate Zainab Otega on behalf of the firm confirmed that Omorogbe was present during Otse's interrogation at the EFCC facility, and condemned the circumstances of his arrest as a violation of his constitutional rights. Otse was released from EFCC custody after five days, to Adeyanju, on 7 May 2025.

Deji Adeyanju v. Inspector-General of Police & 2 Ors (FHC/ABJ/CS/291/2025)

Founding partner Deji Adeyanju filed suit FHC/ABJ/CS/291/2025 at the Federal High Court in Abuja against the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), seeking judicial clarification on the enforcement of third-party motor vehicle insurance laws in Nigeria. Adeyanju challenged the practice of law enforcement agencies imposing on-the-spot fines on motorists without court orders, arguing this violated the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Act 1950 and constitutional rights to privacy and freedom of movement. On 24 April 2026, Justice Hauwa Yilwa ruled in favour of Adeyanju's position, holding that while the Nigeria Police Force and the FRSC may check compliance with insurance requirements, they lack statutory authority to impose fines without recourse to the court, and issued a perpetual injunction restraining both agencies from unilaterally penalising motorists nationwide. Marvin Omorogbe appeared as lead counsel for the applicant.

Estate of Senator Ayougu Eze (2026)

The firm issued a public legal warning on behalf of a client regarding the estate of the late Senator Ayogu Eze, which was the subject of litigation pending before the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja before Justice Chizoba Orji. The firm cautioned investors, business partners, banks, and other stakeholders against dealing with the estate or related entities — including Simonis Ventures Nig Ltd — pending the resolution of the matter.

Pro bono and public interest work

Upon his call to the bar, founding partner Deji Adeyanju publicly committed the firm to taking up human rights cases on a pro bono basis. In July 2025, the firm awarded cash prizes totalling ₦8 million to two top-performing graduates of the Nigerian Law School in recognition of their academic achievements. Oluwabusayo Ifonlaja, who emerged as the overall best graduating student at the Nigerian Law School having received an unprecedented 18 academic awards, received ₦5 million, while Maryam Abiodun Lawal, the best graduating female student and second overall, received ₦3 million. The award ceremony took place at the firm's Abuja offices, with both recipients in attendance.

Controversies

PDP defamation matter (2024)

In December 2024, the firm issued a formal letter of apology on behalf of founding partner Deji Adeyanju over statements made during a podcast in which Adeyanju alleged that PDP National Chairman Umar Damagun and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu were operating as moles of President Bola Tinubu within the opposition party. The letter of apology, signed by senior associate Zainab Otega on behalf of the firm, withdrew the statements and expressed regret for any perceived defamation.

Letter of demand against The Authority (2024)

In June 2024, founding partner Marvin Omorogbe issued a letter of demand to The Authority newspaper on behalf of a client, Asabe Waziri, demanding ₦100 million in damages, a published apology in two national dailies, and a retraction of a news report titled "Murder: NGO drags IGP to court over failure to release investigation report on Asabe Waziri." Omorogbe argued the headline conveyed to the public that the client was "a murderer and a fugitive from justice." The newspaper declined to comply, and the Nigerian Guild of Editors and media organisations condemned the letter as an attempt to intimidate the press.

See also

• Deji Adeyanju
• Human rights in Nigeria
• VeryDarkMan
• Omoyele Sowore
• Speed Darlington
• Nigerian Bar Association

External links

• Official website

Category:Law firms of Nigeria Category:Law firms established in 2024 Category:Organizations based in Abuja Category:Human rights organizations based in Nigeria Category:2024 establishments in Nigeria